AP Psychology Unit 4 Flashcards

Study Notes

Sensation and Perception Concepts

Sensation involves detecting physical energy emitted or reflected by objects, forming the basis of sensory experiences.
Perception is the cognitive process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to make it meaningful.

Stimuli That Affect Cells

Stimuli that can stimulate sensory cells include light waves, vibrational forces, and airborne or bloodborne chemical molecules.

Transduction Process

Transduction refers to converting one form of energy into another that the brain can interpret, enabling sensory perception.

Psychophysics Field

Psychophysics examines the relationship between the physical properties of stimuli and the psychological experiences they evoke.

Thresholds of Sensory Detection

Absolute threshold is the minimum level of stimulation needed for a stimulus to be detected 50% of the time.
Discrimination threshold indicates the capability to distinguish between two different stimuli.
Difference threshold represents the smallest change in a stimulus that can be noticed half of the time.

Laws of Sensory Perception

Weber's Law states that the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus, meaning larger stimuli require larger changes to notice a difference.
Fechner's Law describes the relationship between a stimulus's actual magnitude and its perceived magnitude, providing a mathematical framework for understanding perception.
Stevens' Power Law focuses on the intensity of actual stimuli and how they are perceived, highlighting non-linear relationships in sensory experiences.

Signal Detection Theory

Signal detection theory emphasizes that we actively select signals based on the stimulation affecting our sensory organs, separating relevant from irrelevant stimuli.

Subliminal Persuasion

Subliminal persuasion refers to presenting stimuli beneath an individual's conscious awareness, which may influence thoughts or behaviors without them being consciously aware of it.

Description

Explore the key concepts of sensation and transduction in AP Psychology with these flashcards. Learn important definitions and processes that shape our sensory experiences. Ideal for students preparing for exams or wanting to strengthen their understanding of these topics.